My Year In The Grand West

It was the 150th anniversary celebration at Zeradatha Lodge No 220 in Uxbridge last night, and I learnt three things while sitting in the East, other than the members have met in various locations and currently meet in a temple that was built in 1962. The lodge was formed in 1869 shortly after both the Civil War and Confederation had taken place. Since forming, they remain a vibrant lodge, its members still tightly woven with the community in general and Uxbridge specifically.  History abounds in the lodge - from the huge painted scrolls (measuring over 7 feet in width and nearly 400 feet in length) to the Vimy Gavel and and Lt Col Sam Sharpe, DSO , who is a true Canadian hero. Sharpe was not only a proud member of the Zeradatha Lodge, but he was also a Member of Parliament, and only one of two who has ever gone to war while sitting in parliament and he was re-eleted to office while serving overseas. He helped to recruit an entire battalion from the Uxbridge area, who eventually...

Every once in a while you find out about a special evening, and this past Friday night on August 16 WBro Steve Spence drove to my place, then together we drove up to meet RWBro Mark Kapitan in King City to then as a trio drive onward to Bracebridge. We arrived after a few hours of engaging conversation while on the road in plenty of time to enjoy a pre-lodge meal before being properly lined up prior to entering, properly presented and offered our respective chairs, which were politely declined. The Grand Junior Warden and I sat in the East. On this special evening indeed, while attending Muskoka Lodge No. 360 on the occasion of their 49th Annual Visitors Night (which began when vacationing members who were in the Muskokas enjoyed a meeting before departing for their homes after a relaxing summer at the cottage) a candidate, Mr McIntyre, was then initiated by his Father, who had assumed the gavel, with his Grandfather sitting as IPM. The DDGM, RWBro R Meadows, also attended, as did ...